Chemical Eradication Methods For Aquarium Strains Of Chaetomorpha

Keywords

Acetic acid; Caulerpa taxifolia; Chlorine bleach; Copper sulfate; Fluridone; Rock salt; Sonar

Abstract

Biological invasions by plants released from home aquaria into natural environments are an issue of global concern. The best-documented of these invasions, those by the macroalga Caulerpa taxifolia, have affected the ecology and economy of the Mediterranean coast, Australia, and California. As California boasts the only successful eradication of C. taxifolia, we sought to proactively identify effective eradication methods for future invasions by aquarium macroalgae. The genus Chaetomorpha is currently the most popular macroalgal group for saltwater aquaria, used by over 50% of surveyed hobbyists. As such, the opportunity for its introduction is considerable and poses a serious threat to marine and estuarine systems. We tested five chemical treatments - chlorine bleach, rock salt, copper sulfate, acetic acid, and fluridone - to determine the best techniques for rapid eradication or control of an invasion by aquarium Chaetomorpha. We conducted factorial experiments on 1-cm fragments cut from algal thalli from three retail purchases of Chaetomorpha (included C. crassa, C. spiralis, C. linum) exposed to experimental concentrations of each chemical for differing durations, rinsed the fragments, and then resubmerged them in chemical-free artificial seawater. We monitored survival and growth for 4 wk after the end of chemical exposure; of the treatments tested, only acetic acid was consistently effective at inducing full mortality at tested exposure levels (at least 2% for 4 min). Chlorine bleach results were inconsistent for tested species. Rock salt and copper sulfate did not significantly reduce survival but effectively limited growth of Chaetomorpha fragments. As tested, fluridone did not significantly limit survival or growth.

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Publication Title

Journal of Aquatic Plant Management

Volume

53

Issue

January

Number of Pages

22-27

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

Socpus ID

84922679449 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84922679449

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